Clubnix:Links

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OS's: completely free and open source

 * ubuntu.com Ubuntu Linux (Dutch: ubuntu-nl.org)
 * fedoraproject.org Fedora, community version of RedHat Enterprise Linux
 * opensuse.org OpenSUSE, community version of Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise
 * gentoo.org Gentoo Linux
 * debian.org Debian GNU/Linux
 * And there are a zillion more Linux distributions.

OS's: partially free and open source systems, partially proprietary

 * Apple Mac OS X (the core components collectively refered as Darwin are open source, all other components among which the Aqua user interface are closed source)
 * Xandros Desktop (an example of a Linux distribution that's partially proprietary)

Free and open source software

 * sourceforge.net SourceForge
 * freshmeat.net freshmeat.net
 * theopendisc.com OpenDisc website: High Quality Open Source Software for Windows. This is an excellent selection with well-known software like Firefox and OpenOffice.org, but also with a lot of lesser known open source software of the same quality. You can either download a CD with you can burn or click through to the official website of some program. Almost all software will run on Linux, too.
 * In Ubuntu's "Switching From Windows" documentation: Ubuntu equivalents to Windows programs. If the Linux application exists for Windows as well it's mentioned in that list.

Related associations (Netherlands)

 * nllgg.nl Nederlandse Linux Gebruikers Groep. National Linux Users Association, aimed at both hobbyist and professional users.
 * Vereniging NLUUG National association aimed at professional users of Unix-like operating systems, among which Linux. They promote and support any free and open OS and also open standards.
 * ubuntu-nl.org The Ubuntu-NL community organises release parties after each Ubuntu release. They try to aim at any user, including absolute beginners. Apart from a well-cared-for website they have a very active forum. For users of other Linux distributions the use of ubuntu-nl.org may be ranging from slightly less useful to hardly of any use. Dutch speaking of course.
 * Several groups in the HCC, the national computer users association:
 * hcc-linux.nl HCC!Platform Linux, for who simply wants to use Linux without studying it: for entertainment, hobby or work.
 * A handy list of all upcoming HCC Linux activities is published on the HCC!Platform Linux website. As of 2010 at least 4 local Linux groups within the HCC exist nicely spread over the Netherlands.
 * hcc-unix.nl HCC!Unix is for enthusiast hobbyist and professional users who want to understand how their Linux or Unix-like operating system works.


 * LOSC: Local Open Source Cluster, collection of Linux User Groups and other independent local groups using free and open source software. LOSC list of independent local groups and the description of a LOSC. LOSC can provide space for a website for a local group or just point to an existing website of a local group. Some local groups are English. As of 2010 at least 3 of the local groups are active.
 * Hosting Community Soleus This organization provides as the name suggests hosting, but it is non-profit. It is an association of computer enthusiasts providing hosting by way of Virtual Private Servers to its members against cost price. With a Virtual Private Server you're having root access to the Linux system and you can do virtually anything on your server. Like installing new software packages on your server, not only PHP/Perl/Python scripts. This association is only interesting if you're fairly technical. English and Dutch speaking.

Related associations (The Hague)

 * Computer Hobby Club 'DIGITAL' This is a local computer users association. Long ago it was founded and supported by the municipality of The Hague, but it is independent now. (Meetings generally are the third Saturday of the month.)

Linux components
All essential components of Linux are free and open source, some of them are listed below.
 * The GNU project.
 * The Linux kernel.
 * gnome.org The GNOME desktop environment (file manager: Nautilus, window manager: Metacity, widget toolkit: GTK+).
 * kde.org The KDE desktop environment (file manager: Dolphin/Konqueror, window manager: KWin, widget toolkit: Qt).
 * The Xfce desktop environment (file manager: Thunar, window manager: Xfwm, widget toolkit: GTK+).

Organizations promoting free and open source software

 * fsf.org The Free Software Foundation was founded by Richard Stahlman, they invented the massively used GNU GPL license. They tend to be at the left side of the political spectrum. That being said whatever you motivation to use free and open source software: their website is interesting and informative to read.
 * opensource.org The Open Source Initiative tends to be politically neutral but they are promoting free and open source software for the merits of the software. It isn't as you would maybe think some foundation with Microsoft behind it. The information on their website is accurate and neutral.
 * creativecommons.org Creative Commons is an organization promoting free and open source content (music, texts, video as well as software). They promote both fully free and open content and partly free and open content. Partly meaning some of the licenses they drafted are not giving users all rights they get with a truly free and open content license. But they also promote the GNU GPL and their own CC-by-sa license which are truly free and open content licenses.

Where to get help online

 * http://www.linuxquestions.org/ Excellent forum. Before asking a question make sure you search through the massive amount of already answered questions.